Financial Aid

Financial Aid Timeline

Early Action/Regular Decision Incoming students and parents should begin to gather financial information in preparation for filing a FAFSA and CSS PROFILE for their first academic year.
Continuing students and parents should begin to gather financial information in preparation for filing a FAFSA for the next academic year. The FAFSA is the only financial aid application needed for continuing students. (You NO longer need to complete the CSS PROFILE.)
The FAFSA is available each year beginning January 1.
The CSS PROFILE is available each year beginning October 1 (Incoming students only).
Lewis & Clark’s priority filing dates:
- Incoming students under Early Decision: November 15 for the CSS PROFILE and January 4 for the FAFSA to allow for its review prior to the admissions deposit deadline.
- Incoming students under Early Action/Regular Decision: February 15 for FAFSA and CSS PROFILE.
- Continuing students: March 15 (FAFSA only).

Incoming students who completed the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE by February 15 should receive a financial aid award notification by early April.
Incoming students should submit any documentation (i.e. verification documents) required to confirm their financial aid awards no later than April 15.
Incoming students who wish to attend Lewis & Clark should submit the required deposit to the Office of Admissions no later than May 1.
Continuing students who complete the FAFSA are notified if any additional documentation is required to prepare a financial aid award for the next academic year. Because funding sources may be limited, all additional documentation should be submitted as soon as possible but no later then May 15 to be considered for Federal Work-Study and/or Perkins Loan.

Inform us of all external resources received using the External Resources form.
Continuing students who filed a valid FAFSA by March 15 and returned additional documentation requested by May 15 should have a financial aid award no later than June 1.
Students and/or parents who wish to sign up for the Tuition Management Systems (TMS) monthly payment plan should enroll no later than mid-June.

Complete the steps necessary to secure student loan funds shown on your financial aid award for the upcoming school year.
Parents wishing to borrow a Federal PLUS Loan should complete an application with the U.S. Department of Education no later than August 1.
Students wishing to borrow a private education loan should select a lender and complete an application with that lender no later than August 1.
Billing statements for the fall semester will be sent to students in mid July.

Make sure all steps necessary to secure financial aid are completed so that funding will be applied to the student account at the beginning of the fall semester.
The fall billing due date is in early-August.
Make sure to bring the necessary original employment documents to campus in the fall. Additional information regarding student employment and what documents are required can be found on HR’s Student Employment website.

Secure a student employment position and complete the necessary employment paperwork.
Early Decision Incoming students and parents should begin to gather financial information in preparation for filing a CSS PROFILE for their first academic year.

Billing statements for spring semester charges are sent to students in mid November.
Incoming students under Early Decision should file the CSS PROFILE by November 15, to receive an estimated financial aid award. You may file a FAFSA beginning January 1. See January timeline for additional deadline information.